Rhodes et al 2007

Title: Five-Year Follow-up of a Randomized, Prospective Trial of Topical Methyl Aminolevulinate Photodynamic Therapy vs Surgery for Nodular Basal Cell Carcinoma

Author: Rhodes LE, de Rie M, Leifsdottir R, Yu R, Bachmann I, Goulden V, et al. 

Journal Reference:  Arch Dermatol. 2007 Sep;143(9):1131-6 (by clicking on this link you will be leaving this site - Galderma is not responsible for the content)

Objective: Five year follow-up of a previous study by Rhodes et al comparing the efficacy and cosmetic outcome of topical photodynamic therapy using methyl aminolevulinate (MAL; Metvix®) with standard simple excision surgery in nodular basal cell carcinoma.

Design: this was a European, prospective, multicentre, parallel-group, randomised trial. Lesions with complete clinical response at 3 months were observed for long-term outcome; 49 for MAL-PDT and 52 for surgery.

Key Results:

  • At 5 years, recurrence had been observed in 14% of lesions treated with MAL-PDT (7 of 49 lesions), and in 4% of lesions treated with surgery (2 of 52 lesions)
  • Sustained lesion complete response rates were estimated at 76% for MAL-PDT and 96% for surgery.
  • Cosmesis was rated as excellent or good in 87% of MAL-PDT patients and in 54% of patients treated with surgery

Conclusion: MAL-PDT demonstrates good efficacy in nodular basal cell carcinoma over 5 years, although recurrence rates with surgery were superior. MAL-PDT showed a better cosmetic outcome than surgery.